Hospital truck



Se t. 16, 1930. A. SHEASER 1 1,775,785

HOSPITAL TRUCK med Oct. 21. 1929 2 Shoots-Sheet 1 lw mammmmn I INVENTORI r hdr-ew SAecz 5 er;

B A TTORNEY.

2 Shuts-Shoot 2 Filed Oct. 21, 1929 ll llll "Hill" INVENTQR;

A TTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 16, 1930 rarsur orrrcs,

Anneiiw snn asnn; or none BEACH, carrronnra nosriran TRUCK Application filed October 21, 1929. Serial No. 401,093.

This invention has relation to a device, for use in hospital-or sick room, to" transport pa tients to and from their bed. The object of the invention is to provide a wheel-truck constructed to support a carriage for receiving the patientto be transported. Another object is provision of means for projecting this carriagefrom the truck on to thepatients bed. A further object isto adjust the carriage of myi device'to various positions for the convenience and comfort of the patient. The additionaljobjects of "my invention are hereinafter fully set forth and illustrated in the ap pended 'drawings,of which 1 1 is a perspectlve view showing the structure of my invention in its relation to a hospital cot,

Fig. 2 is an end elevation substantially in agreement with Fig. 1, i

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front elevation of the structure illustrating carriage adjusting means, and Fig. 4 shows modified means for effecting such adjustment.

The structure of my inventioncomprises a F rectangular frame 1 mounted on suitable wheels, or casters 2 and provided with trans verse rails 3, 42, which latter form a track for a carriage 5. u I

The carriage 5 consists of a rectangular frame 10, to which i are secured pendent wheels, or rollers 11, and these wheels run on and are guided in the track of the frame 1. Means is employed for the purpose of moving r the carriage on the track and such means may take the shape of a simple hand-grip 12. The frame 1 is made with vertical posts forming end frames 13, 14, in which is hung a shaft 15, and this shaft is rotated by means of a handwheel 16. Cables 17 are hung on drums 18 of 0 the shaft 15, and these cables are bent over pulleys 19 of the end frames, from which they extend to the outer edge of the carriage 5.

The structure of myinvention is designed for operation by a single attendant, and it is of a size to permit him to roll the truck through the average size door and to place it alongside a sick bed, or cot 20, whereupon the attendant pushes the carriage, on the track, over the top of the bed. While moving the carriage with one hand, the operator may turn the handwheel 16 with the other hand to elevate the outer edge of the carriage clear of the bed. l Vhen the carriage has been properl placed, the hand-wheel motion is reversed, permitting the carriage to settle on i the bed. The patient is then required to roll, or to be rolled on to the carriage which, for the comfort of the patient, is made with suitable cushions 23, 2 1, 25. The carriage is then again elevated and drawn back on to the truck frame, whereupon the truck is wheeled away by the attendant.

' By referring to Fig. 2 it is seen that, when the pulleys 19 are placed directly above the outer edge of the carriage, the latter becomes automatically elevated, when pushed on to the bed. This is the position indicated. After the patient has been transferred to the carriage, and theouter edge again has been elevated, it is noticed that gravity will aid in rolling thecarriage back on to the truck. The outer end of the track may also be up wardly curved, substantially as indicated at P in order further to assist in restoring the carriage to its normal position on the truck. These upwardly curved rail ends may conveniently serve as rests for the outer end of the retracted carriage. In case carriage rollers 11 are also placedalong the outer, edge of the carriage, the rails 8, at should be made straight, without the upward end curve, in order not to interfere withthe travel of the carriage.

In order better to adapt my device to all sick room conditions I have provided means for tilting the end cushions of the carriage,as best shown in Fig. 3. A shaft is transversely journaled in the truck frame, and this shaft carries a rigidly aflixed cam 31. This cam is normally held in an out of the way position, as indicated at the left of the drawing, and it may be brought to-press against the bottom plate of the cushion 25, substantially as shown at the right, in order to tilt the cushion. Reduction gears 32, 33 may be introduced for the purpose of easing the operation of the cam, and the operation is performed by means of a handwheel 34. 7

My aim is to show a tilting device which, when not in use, will not interfere with the movement of the carriage on the truck, and which will perform its function although the position of rest of the carriage on the truck is not always the same. The end cushions E23, should preferably be hinged on the carriage in order not to be dislodged in tilting. The center cushion 2 may be removable, in which case interchangeable center cushions of different constructions for various purposes may be provided. lVith this in view, the center cushion of Fig. 1 is shown having a central aperture 27 for toilet conveniences. The cushion tilting mechanism may be the same at both ends of the carriage.

From the foregoing description it is clear that my object is to provide a substantial floor truck having a carriage firmly mounted thereon and that, when this carriage is moved transversely on the truck, the outer, projecting side edge automatically is elevated to clear the bed the device serves. Also that I provide means on the truck for adjusting the bed on the carriage, and that this means normally does not interfere with the movement of the carriage 011 the truck. For convenience in propelling the truck from room to room suitable handles 21 may be provided at each end of the truck, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3.

It may be tersely stated, that my object is to do away with the common, unsanitary bed pan and the revolting conditions incident to bed pan service, particularly in hospital wards where more than one patient occupies one room and where such service often is given during visiting or meal l'lOlI-ElS. With my device a patient may quickly be trans ferred to a suitably equipped room and be properly attended to, leaving the sickroom sweet and sanitary and the other patients and their friends mentally unaffected.

In order further to make my device of value in such institutions it may be preferable to leave a large enough space under the truck to roll it directly over a toilet bowl or other suitable receptacle, as indicated in Fig. 2.

It may be objected, in this connection, that the cam mechanism for adjusting the cushions projects into this space, but this mechanism may be modified, as indicated in Fig. 4, to consist of one or two vertically disposed screws 40 mounted to turn on each end frame of the truck and provided at the top with a hand wheel 41. A cam 42 is threaded to ride on this screw and to move vertically when the handwheel is rotated.

lVherc the weight of a heavy patient is apt to overbalance the truck it is advantageous to place a projecting step on the opposite side of the truck, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3. The weight of the attendant, placed on this step 4-5, will suffice to restore equilibrium. This step should be hinged, as shown, so that it may swing out of the way, as indicated in dotted outline.

I claim:

1. The combination with a floor truck having transverse rails, of a carriage provided at its inner side edge with wheels movable in said rails, a shaft hung on the inner side of the truck above said carriage, and connections from said shaft to the outer edge of the carriage for the purpose of adjusting the height of said carriage edge.

2. The combination with a floor truck having transverse rails, of a carriage provided at its inner side edge with wheels movable in said rails, a shaft hung on the inner side of the truck above said carriage and provided at each end with a drum, cables from said drums to the outer side edge of the carriage for supporting this carriage edge, pulleys in the truck frame above said carriage edge over which the said cables are bent, and means for rotating said shaft to adjust the outer edge of the carriage vertically.

3. A hospital truck provided with high end frames and having at bed height transverse rails, a shaft hung at the top of said end frames along one side of the truck, said shaft having at each end a drum a pair of pulleys in the end frames directly opposite said drums, a carriage having at the side below said drum wheels movable in said rails, cables leading from said drums over the said pulleys to the opposite edge of the carriage, and a handwheel for rotating said shaft to wind or unwind said cables, thereby to adjust the height of the carriage edge supported by the cables.

a. The combination with a floor truck, of a carriage mounted for transverse movement on said truck for the purpose of projecting the side edge of the carriage over the edge of a bed, means for elevating said side edge while being projected, and a foldable step on the opposite side of the truck for the o erator to stand on and thereby to counter l ialance the carriage when projected.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

ANDREW SHEASER. 

